On Friday, 22nd May, Roscommon Volunteer Centre proudly launched its new initiative, the Roscommon Volunteer Achievement Award. We were delighted to welcome Dr. Martin Daly, who officially launched the award on the day, along with guest speaker and Irish U-21 Women’s Rugby Team player Síofra Hession, and many volunteers and community organisations from across the county.

This initiative celebrates the dedication, generosity, and community spirit of volunteers across County Roscommon and recognises the valuable contribution volunteering makes within local communities.

As part of the initative, Roscommon Volunteer Centre is encouraging people to take part in the “26 for 26” volunteering campaign in recognition of the United Nations marking 2026 as the International Year of the Volunteer. The campaign encourages people to contribute 26 hours of volunteering during 2026 to a cause or organisation are interested in — that’s just two hours a month and can make a meaningful difference in the community.

The Roscommon Volunteer Achievement Award booklet has been designed to help volunteers record and celebrate their volunteering journey. Participants can track their hours and work towards milestones of 26 hours in 2026 or 50, or 100 volunteer hours in a 12 month period.

Roscommon Volunteer Centre is working in partnership with volunteer-involving organisations across the county to encourage both new and existing volunteers to get involved.

A special celebration event will be held at the end of the year or in early 2027 to acknowledge and thank volunteers for their commitment and contribution to their communities.

Volunteers are invited to use the link below to register and track their hours as they work towards their chosen milestone. Hard copies of the new booklet are available from the Roscommon Volunteer Centre office, including a Ukrainian-language version. The booklet can also be viewed online and translated into any language using your browser’s translation tools.

Volunteers can collect a booklet, record their hours, and return it once they have reached a milestone.

Together, we can celebrate volunteering and the positive impact it has across County Roscommon.